Gas-regulator.



W. A. BAEHR. GAS REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED AJ'ULYl/l, 1910.

@S Patented Man?, 1911.

z SHEETS-SHEET '1.

W. A. BAEHR.

GAS REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

-VVILLIAIVI A. BAEHR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T THE RELIANCE ENGINEER- ING& MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF CHICAGQ' 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A .CORPO RATION OF WEST vVIRGINIA.

GAS-REGULATOR.

essere.

. Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 14, 1910. Serial No. 572,048.

To all whom ttmay concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. BAEHR a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Gas-Regulators, of which the following is a full, true, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My invention relates to gas regulators, and hasparticular reference to improvements in automatic regulators for reducing the. pressure between service gas pipes andl the con- My invention consists generally in an au-` tomatic gas pressure reducing valve and regulator ofthe kind hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

'Ihe invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a tion and-in which; j

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a gas regulator embodying my invention;

`Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof substantially on the line X-X of Fig. l viewed in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line Y-Y of Fig. l; Fig.

4 is an enlargedl detailed sectional view of the valve of my regulator; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the valve on the line Z-Z of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section of a portion of the regulator case showing the key for adjusting the tension of the pressure spring.

As shown in the drawings, my novel gas regulator comprises a substantiallycircular casing made in two parts 2 and 3, the part 2 forming the body of the casing and the part 3 being a cover secured thereto by a number of cap screws 4i. Between the body 2 and part of this specificathe cover 3 is a diaphragm 5 reinforced'at the center by metallic plates 6. The cover '3 contains a hole 3 vso that atmospheric pressure is maintained upon the outer side of the diaphragm, z'. e., the side toward the cover. i

In the upper part of the cover, upon the atmospheric side of the diaphragm and at one side ofthe center of the cover, I arrange a cross-shaft 6 carrying a torsion spring 7 The shaft is arranged in bearings 3 in the coverand is adjustably securedagainst rotation by a set screw 8 in one of the lbearings. secured to the shaft 6' while the other end is formed into an arm 7 terminating in a curl 7 and pressing upon the center of the diaphragm. Thus formed the spring exerts its pressure to hold the diaphragm away from the inner wall of the cover in opposition to anvgas pressure which'may accumulate within the body Q-that is, within i This the chamber A back of the diaphragm. spring is made adjustable as to its tensionY to adjust or vary the normal pressure of One end 7 of the torsion spring is' gas in the chamber A. This adjustment is l effected by the rotation of the shaft `6 in its bearings, the shaft having one of its projecting ends lsquared or flattened to receive a key 8', by which it may be rot-ated when the set. screwv8 is loosened.

The back of the body of the casing is proi vided with a wide vertical rib 2 containing an elongated vertical recess 2 which opens into the circular portion of the chamber A. The top ofthe part 2 contains a threaded hole 9 to receive the exit or consumption pipe 10. The bottom contains a threaded hole Il to receive the entrance valve or regulator valve proper through which the high pressure gas enters the chamber A. The

largest part of the valve constitutes a threaded plug 12 having a hexagonal shoulder 13 `at its lower end terminating in a threaded-nipple 14 to which the supply pipe l5 is attached. rEhe upper end of the plug is tapered slightly so that a very tight joint between the stem and the casing may be made by screwing the plug into place. The

Lexact height to which the plug is adjusted in the casing is determined by the toggle lever mechanism which coacts therewith as hereinafter explained. The upperl part of the plug I2 contains a. vertical -cylindrical chamber 1G reduced in effective diameter by the internal guide ribs 17, the inner edges of which are finished to serve as guides for the valve member 18. The' bottom ofthe chamber 16 contains a central inlet hole 19 at the upper end of which is an annular seat'20 to receive the valve member 18. The central duct 19 in the lower end of the plug communicates with the smaller passage 19.

In the lower end of the valve 18'is a recess 18 which is utilized to hold a soft seat packing 18". It will be observed that the annular wall 18 surrounding the packing 18 is` relatively thin, and in manufacturing the member 18 I preferably swage or compress this wall annularly upon the packing 18 thereby securing, the latter irmly in place upon the lower end of the member 18. The upper end of the member 18v has a shoulder 184 and the member 18 is supported by a` conical spring 21, -the upper end of which engages the shoulder 184L while the spring rests upon the upper ends of the internal ribs 17, as bestl shown in Fig. 4;. The spring is strong enough to support the valve member 18 out of contact with the seat 20, and

lsuch is its condition except under an abnormal pressure of gas within the chamber A,

at which time the valve is pressed down by .the hereinafter described toggle lever mechanism which is vactuated by the diaphragm.

, The upper end 4185 of the member 18 is conicaland, in conjunctionwith the member22, forms a safety valve adapted to close the passage into the casing when the pressure upon the consumption side thereof is suddenly released, as by the disruption or bursting of the diaphragm. The member 22 is an inverted cup containing the valve hole 22 thelower edge 22 of which is' a valve seat for the conicalend 185 -of the member 18.

l The member 22 is threaded intothe upper end-of the plug portion' 12.

A short stem or stud 186 rising centrally from the top of the member 18 extends considerably above the inverted valveseat/member 22. This stud or stem is engaged by the diaphragm mechanism when the diaphragm is) extended by pressure within the chamber A. The said mechanism comprises a toggle lever 28 composed of two links,-'a strut link 24 and a valve actuating link 25, the same being joined by pivot pins 26`and 27. The upper link or arm of the toggle lever is attached by a pin 28 to an internal lug 2 at the top of the casing. The strut 24 is attached by a pin 24 to a lug 6 on the diaphragm, and the lower ende ofthe link-E5 [is pivoted to the casing by a cross pin 25.

The several links arefpreferably U-'shaped in cross section and are wide enough to af-I ford lateral stability to their pivots. lower part 25 of the link 25 is directly f' The ened to such an extent that the link 25v sition of the valve member 18 andthe toggle mechanism at the moment when the pressure in the chambervA is m'Z or much less than normal.. Normally the link 25 has a fixed -pivot and a relatively fixed position within the casing.` The valve plug is made adjustable in the manner hereinbefore explained,

and, being adjustable,rit may be raised or lowered in the thread of the opening 11 until the valve member 18 properly coacts 4with the toggle mechanism.

The operation of the regulator herein dis,- closed is as follows: When there is no pressure within the regulator the diaphragm and the toggle mechanism occupyI the positions shown in Fig. 1 and the valve member 18 being at that time supportedby the spring will stand midway' between the two valve seats 20 and 22". When gas is L,supplied to the pipe 15, it will flow through thepassa'ge 19, the chamber 16 and the opening 22, until the accumulating pressure in the chamber A is suiiicient to dist'end the'diaphragm so far as to straighten out the toggle lever and cause the lower end thereof to engagethe y stud of the valve member 18. The parts will:4

remain in this condition until the -distension of' the diaphragm is increased to the point where the toggle mechanism forces the valve l member yrmlyagainst the-lower valve seat '20 and` thus` closes the entrance passage 19. yThe return -of the diaphragm when pressure is reduced in chamber A suffers the valve to be lifted by itsl spring and to admita further supply.v of gas. In event Athe Idiaphragm is 'broken or the consumption pipe is suddenly opened, the high pressureV of the gas in the supply pipe 15 being no longer opposed by the diaphragm and toggle mechanism will cause the valve suddenly torisebeyond the point of Anormal support by the sprin 21 and close the opening or passage 22. nes closed in this manner the valve will remain against the seat 22" until the balance of iis pressures is restored. Obviously the valve l member 18 performs thefunction of a safety or automatic emergency valve, and a chief lfeature of my invention arises from the fact that the single member 18 performs :the

functions of both entrance and emergency valves, and its use enables the production of a regulator of remarkable simplicity, ethciency and reliability. i

A particularly desirable feature of my improyed gas regulator resides in the ease with which the regulating valve may be removed for repairs without disturbing the consumpsaeaa tion pipe or the diaphragm and toggle leverl mechanism.

The lstructure herein shown may be considerably modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not limit or confine my invention to this precise structure.

I claim:

1. A fluid pressure regulator comprising a chambered casing and mechanism therein responsive to fluid pressure, a valve-member carried by said casing and controlled by said mechanism for regulating the inflow of fluid to said casing, said valve member being removable from the casing independently of said mechanism, and means for checking the inflow of fluid upon the failure of said mechanism.

2. A fluid pressure regulator comprising a chambered casing and mechanism therein responsive to fluid pressure, and a valvemember carried by said casing and controlled by said mechanism for regulating the inflow of fluid to said casing, said valve member being removable from the casing independently of said mechanism, a spring for supporting the valve member away from its seat when the pressure in the chamber is substantially balanced with the pressure in the supply pipe, and an auxiliary valve seat for the inner endof the valve'upon which the valve member is adapted to be seated and close the inlet passage, by fluid pressure, upn an abnormal decrease ofpressure Within the chamber .substantially as described.

3. A fluid pressureregulator comprising a chambered casing and mechanism4 therein responsive to fluid pressure, a valve member carried byasaid casing and controlled by said mechanism for regulating the inflow of fluid to said casing, a spring for supporting the valve member away from its seat when the pressure at the two ends of the valve is substantially balanced, an auxiliary valve seat for the inner end of the valve upon which the valve is adapted to be seated, by fluid pressure, upon an abnormal decrease of pres'- sure at the inner end of the valve substantially as described.`

4. A fluid pressure regulator comprising a chambered casing and controlling mechanism therein responsive to fluid pressure', an inlet valve member mounted in the path of 4one portion of said mechanism and positioned thereby to control the inflow of fluid to said chamber, a spring supporting the valve away from its seat during such time, and an auxiliary seat for the inner end of the valvemember against which said valve .member is adapted to be closed by fluid pressure upon an abnormal relative decrease of pressure within said chamber, substantially as described.

5. A fluid pressure regulator comprising a chambered casing and mechanism therein lchambered casing and cont-rolling mechanism therein responsive to fluid pressure', a valve-member carried by said casing and controlled by said mechanism for regulating the inflow of fluid to said casing, means for adjusting the position of said valve-member relative to said mechanism and said valvemember being removable Ifrom said casing independently of said mechanism.

7. A fluid pressure regulator comprising a chambered casing and mechanism therein responsive to fluid pressure, an inlet passage for said casing, a plug member movably mounted therein. a valve chamber in said plug having a valve seat at each end, a valve in said valve chamber, and resilient means for maintaining said valve'in an intermediate position,said valve being controlled by said mechanism for moving said valve relative to one of its seats against the action of said resilient means for controlling the inflow of fluid to said casing and said valve being automatically operated by an abnormal flow of fluid to close upon the other valve seat and check the flow.

8. In a gas regulator, a casing having a gas chamber' provided with an inlet and an oiitlet passage, a floating valve member l relation to lone of its seats to regulate the flow of gas through said passage, said valve being adapted to automatically close upon its other seat to stop the flow of gas4 through said passage upon an abnormal decrease of pressure within said chamber.

9. In a gas regulator, a casing having a chamber provided with an inlet and an outlet passage, a floating valve-member operable within said inlet passage and controlling the flow of gas therethrough, a valve seat arranged at each end of said valve, a pressure operated diaphragm in said casing, a toggle lever mechanism within said chamber operable by said diaphragm and controlling the movement of said valve-member relative to one of its seats to regulate the flow of gas through said passage, said valve being adapted to automatically close upon its other seat to stop the flow of gas through said passage upon an abnormal decrease of pressure Within said casing.

10. A gas regulator comprising a casing,

a gas pressure chamber Within said easing having an inlet and an outlet passage, a pressure responsive diaphragm Within said casing, means for resisting the movement of said diaphra m in one direction, a valveme'mber operagble in said inlet passage, a valve seat arranged at each end of said valve-member, a valve controlling mechanism in said chamber operable by said diaphragm tocontrol the movement of said valve relative to one of its seats to regulate the flow of gas through said inlet passage, saidvalve operating means being adapted to be moved out of the path of said valve-member and permit itto be automatically closed upon its other seat upon an abnormal decrease of pressure Within said easing.

l l'l. A gas regulator comprising a casing, a gaspressure chamber Within said casing having an inlet and an outlet passage, Aa pressure responsive diaphragm Within said casing, a pressure balancing 'spring associated With said diaphragm adapted to poeratively associated with said diaphragm adapted to control the movement of said valve relative to one of its seats to regulate the iow lof gas through said inlet passage, said spring operating to move said valve opera-ting mechanism out of the path of said valve upon an abnormal decrease of pressure Within said chamber and permit said valve to close automatically upon its other seat to stop the flow of gas through said inlet passage.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 29th day of June, 1910, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM A. BAEHR.

lVitnesses ARTHUR W. NELSON,

JOHN R. LEFEVRE. 

